Izakaya (i-居, zaka-酒, ya-屋) is a compound word consisting of “i” (to stay) and “sakaya” (sake shop), as the modern izakaya initially originated from sake shops that allowed customers to sit on the premises and drink. Today they are a distinctly Japanese style bar. Nearly all types of Japanese food can be turned into an izakaya, but most common are:
Yakitori – grilled chicken skewers
Oden – miscellaneous meats and vegetables boiled in a delicate broth
Kushiyaki – grilled meat or vegetable skewers
Sashimi – slices of raw fish
Karaage – bite-sized fried chicken
Robata – grilled anything, but usually including skewers and shellfish (clams, oysters, etc.)
And beverages run the full gamut of any bar, but should probably always include sake, beer, shouchuu, and umeshu to be a typical izakaya. The cheapest ones will only have shouchuu and beer. There is a focus on comfort in izakayas that is not found in normal restaurants. That is to say that the normal rules of dining don’t really apply as strictly. You can sit however you want, and feel free to relax and become a loud drunken fool.
